Abstract
A taxonomic study of the genus Paspalum (Poaceae) in the Bernardo Sayão Ecological Park (PEBS) is presented. Paspalum has more than 350 neotropical species, with the center of diversity in Central Brazil. The PEBS is part of the urban matrix of Brasília. It holds springs and is mainly covered by cerrado sentido restrito and campo sujo, which are the most extensive phytophysiognomies of the Cerrado biome and those most threatened by conversion to agriculture and livestock, due to the ease of mechanization. The study was based on a year of biweekly collections in the area and extensive herbarium review. The genus is represented in the PEBS by 24 species, which correspond to 34% of the total species of this genus registered in the Federal District. The present article presents a key for the identification, species descriptions, taxonomic comments pertinent to the recognition of the taxa, phenological data stressing the flowering periods, environmental peculiarities and illustrations of some diagnostic characters, helping in the identification of the species.
Key words:
Cerrado; conservation; grasses; Panicoideae; taxonomy
